CZ-3C Space Launch Vehicle

LM-3C (China)

First Launch:

Flight Rate:

1 per year?

Launch Site:

Xichang Space Launch Center, China

Capability:

3,700 kg to GTO

History

• Chinese rocket program started in the late 1950s
• Evolved from Chinese surface-to-surface series IRBMs
• LM-3C is the same as LM-2E first stage with strap-ons, LM-3 second stage, and LM-3A LO2/LH2 third stage

Description

• Three-stage vehicle with two strap-on boosters
• Stage 1 consists of four YF-20 motors burning UDMH/N2O4 providing a total thrust of 664,000 lb
• Stage 2 uses one YF-22 engine and four YF-23 verniers burning UDMH/N2O4 generating a total thrust of 172,400 lb
• Stage 3 uses two YF-75 engines burning LO2/LH2 providing a thrust of 35,200 lb

Profile

Length:

190 ft

Launch Weight:

lb

Diameter:

11 ft

Liftoff Thrust:

lb

Payload Fairing: D>39.2 ft x 13.8 ft